Secure Your Future: Top AI-Resistant Jobs with Six-Figure Salaries in 2026

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workforce, a new report reveals a silver lining: high-demand jobs that remain people-dependent are thriving, offering both security and lucrative pay. Indeed's ranking of the 50 Best Jobs in the U.S. for 2026 highlights roles where human skills like empathy, care, and hands-on expertise are irreplaceable, with all top 10 positions boasting median annual salaries over $100,000.

A Boom in Health Care Jobs

Healthcare dominates the list, with seven of the top 10 spots, driven by an aging population and increasing demand for both essential and elective procedures. Cardiac medical technician claims the No. 1 position, with a median salary of $133,907 and robust job growth. Other top roles include:

• Nurse practitioner
• Speech language pathologist
• Licensed professional counselor
• Licensed clinical social worker
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Radiation therapist

Laura Ullrich, North America research director for Indeed Hiring Lab, notes that healthcare represents nearly three-quarters of broader job-market growth, despite accounting for only 11% of all jobs. This trend is expected to accelerate as more Americans live to 100 and older, ensuring long-term job security in these fields.

High Demand for the Trades

Skilled trades are emerging as practical, cost-efficient paths with sustained demand, especially as workers question traditional higher education and AI disruption. Owner-operator truck driver ranks No. 2, with a median salary of $160,000 and a 39% surge in job openings over three years. Other in-demand trades include HVAC technicians and electrical foremen, highlighting opportunities in hands-on, technical roles.

Top 10 Jobs for 2026

| Rank | Job Title | Wage Growth (3-year) | Growth in Job Postings (3-year) | Median Annual Salary | |------|-----------|----------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------| | 1 | Cardiac medical tech | 34% | 34% | $133,907 | | 2 | Owner-operator truck driver | -5% | 39% | $160,000 | | 3 | Nurse practitioner | 10% | -2% | $143,183 | | 4 | Speech language pathologist | 14% | 11% | $109,431 | | 5 | Licensed professional counselor | 33% | -17% | $107,812 | | 6 | Licensed clinical social worker | 20% | -32% | $119,618 | | 7 | Physical therapist | 8% | 0% | $110,848 | | 8 | Occupational therapist | 6% | 13% | $105,580 | | 9 | Radiation therapist | 26% | 8% | $115,923 | | 10 | Data scientist | -3% | 15% | $115,079 |

Tech Jobs Keep Growing

While data scientist is the only tech role in the top 10, the sector remains strong with positions supporting AI, cloud infrastructure, and security solutions. Roles like solution architect, software architect, and security engineer indicate ongoing hiring momentum. Ullrich explains that despite a decline in job postings, employment in computer and mathematical occupations is nearly 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a structural rebalancing rather than a collapse.

The U.S. labor market continues to reward skills that are harder for AI to replace, such as empathy and hands-on expertise. As automation impacts white-collar jobs, these practical careers offer both opportunity and stability, often without requiring advanced degrees.